The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
The last dance of two fallen trees.
A scene from a woodland close to where I live that I stumbled upon a few weeks ago. I found a composition I liked fairly quickly but when I reviewed the pictures I felt something was missing which lead me to think more deeply about what I was drawn to in the first place.
I realised that I was drawn to the ādanceā of these two fallen trees and felt that the image would be enhanced by motion in the trees and heather behind, so I went back on a windy day and tried some long exposures, this is the result.
Specific Feedback
Do you think the motion in the image enhances it? It may be difficult to tell on a small screen. I could post an image taken with a faster shutter for reference.
Technical Details
F11, 30sec ISO 100
Fuji GFX 50S II
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi Dom, Your idea has lovely promise. But I think even with the movement the tree on the right doesnāt quite standout enough from itās non moving portion of the background. Have you thought of using a more shallow depth of field to further make it pop from the background. If you have a ābig stopperā style ND filter and a polarizer and shoot at as large an f stop as you can and keep the tree sharp I think you will get what you are looking for.
Yes, Dom, I think you are on to something. First off that you were able to think through what you were drawn to, and then coming up with a nice solution. I think you are on the right track to minimize the background. And I think using the wind was a different and nice approach. That helps with the branches, but not with the tree trunks, though. As well as there seems to be a need for more contrast between your dancing trees and the background. I think you can work with what you have here to bring down the background some. Though if you plan to shoot this again, consider a few other things: As Guy suggests, a much more shallow DOF using an DN filter if you want to keep with the movement idea. If you have the room to move, maybe backing up a little and zooming in more. It will compress the image, but the background will fall off a little more. And maybe a slightly lower angle. Though looking at the top of your frame, you might run out of trees and start bringing in the sky. But a slightly longer lens might help there as well. Nice find and very creative solution.
Thank you both for your feedback, I very much appreciate it.
I do have a few alternate shots with a shallower DOF, but the tricky bit is having both a shallower DOF and the wind at the same time. Obviously a smaller DOF also results in a shorter exposure, I do have a few options there but I was already using a ND1000. I may have an opportunity to visit again later in the week in different light.
I will also have a bit more of a play with what I have, I wonder whether selectively applying an Orton effect might do the trick.
If I return Iāll also try and have a play with a longer lens.
Thanks again for your input, Iāll update here if I make any progress with it.
Iāve had another go at this and updated above, Iāll post it below as well.
Iām learning, thanks to this network, that one of my weaknesses is my processing - I have a tendency to under-process things, and maybe if Iām being honest I rush them a bit.
I think this is a bit better now, but would very much appreciate anyoneās thoughts. Maybe Iāve gone too far now!
Hi Dom, I think you are definitely making good progress towards your vision for this. For me I would still work on getting more separation for the right hand dancer with that background tree that doesnāt want to blur out. Perhaps the best solution would be to shift your position just a bit to the right so the right dancer is positioned in front of the lighter colored and more blurred foliage. I think that would let it really pop for you.
Hey @DomMcKenzie a nice idea. I can see your dancers standing out a little more. It sounds like you really thought through how you were going to make this photo work. And that is so much how we get better as photographers. Even if everything doesnāt fall into place for one shot, what you learn helps the next one. Keep at it and keep learning.
Hi Dom,
Those two birch trees are dripping with character and mood and are certainly worthy of trying to capture their essence. My thoughts pretty much mirror those of @guy and @patrick6 as far as refining this lovely scene to get what you were after. Beautifully done.
